It may often seem t you that life is one long race! Your parents and teachers tell you every day that you must work very hard, because there is so much competition.
Sometimes you may tempted to make a short cut-to do something dishonest or dishonorable such a copying or cheating. The fear of failure or the desire for success may tempt you to make the road of dishonor. Fear urges you, Come on! Act quickly before someone sees you.’ desire says, `No one will know and you will be happy’. If you decided to go down that path no one may know. But will know! You will respect yourself less.
Sweat a student of class X, had been ill and had missed school for a few. She was a good student and very sincere about her studies. So when she did get back to school, she decided to stay back after for a few days in order to catch up with her notes and lessons. One evening as Sweta got up to leave, she noticed a sheet of paper on the floor next to the teacher’s desk. As she picked it up to place it on the desk she suddenly noticed the title on the paper `Zoology test, class X. with a sock Sweta realized that what she held was the following week’s test paper meant for her class! Moments of struggle followed. She thought of the long weary hours she could save is she copied the paper and prepared for the test at home. There was turmoil in her mind. The voice of temptation told her that no one would know, but her mind cautioned her that it would be wrong, and that she would feel miserable. Sweta made up her mind. She placed the paper on the table and left the room as fast as she could.
In the days that followed, Sweta found that it was easy to study, because she was proud of having resisted temptation. She had no regret, no remorse and no guilt. She studied like she had never studied before and stood first in the zoology test. Sweta competed fairly and won honorably.
Time think
Yes, indeed, there is temptation at every turn but there are lessons we can draw from our own traditions and history.
In ancient India, warriors followed the rule of fair play even on the battled filed. Even when their lives were at stake, and the future of kingdoms hung in the balance, they fought honorably. The epic Mahabharata describe how, before the battle began, warriors on their side met and set down the rules for both armies to follow. A fight could take place only between equals-either between two men mounted on elephants or in chariots, or between two archers. If, during the fight, one withdrew, he was not to be pursued. If the fight began with words, the opponent was to reply with words and not arrows. No one who ran in fear from the battlefield was to be killed. There were many such rules and all of them were strictly followed by both armies.
In the Ramayana, there is a description of a one-to-one combat between Sri Ram and Ravana. During that ferocious fight, Ravana’s chariot collapses. Sri Ram immediately puts away his weapons and tells Ravana, `Go back and return fresh to the battlefield tomorrow. We will fight again tomorrow!
These stories and traditions of honor in life –or- death competition can guide us even in these modern times. When a competitive situation comes along, first ask you this question-what will happen if I don’t win?’ expect in a few cases, such as fighting disease or fire, the opposite of `victory’ is not `defeat’. If you do not win prizes in a sports or speech competition, you are not a `loser’ because you have actually lost nothing! On the contrary, you have gained experience, knowledge and confidence. It is only the prize that you have not won. So never say `I spent so many hours preparing and practicing and I have nothing to show for it’. By competing fairly, you are investing in your future.
Next, ask yourself the question- `what do I need to do attain my goal honestly?’ is it a subject that requires extra study? It is a skill that requires more practice? Do you need information or advice? Think about it and discuss what you should do with your parents and teachers.
We also need to realize that gains are not always measurable. Imagine a mother who feeds and bathes and looks after her child every day. Suppose she was to think at the end of the day, `I fed and played with this child the whole day, and there is nothing to show for it’. Wouldn’t that be unfair? In the same way it is unfair to expect an award every time you investment in the growth of your mind, your spirit and your character.
*When we stumble his hand is always there to help us. But do not think that He will never let us stumble.
One day, an old man called Nathan was sitting under a fig tree. There was a creeper beside him with a very large pumpkin hanging below. naveen thought, `How foolish on the part of God to put on this big tree such small figs as fruit, and on this poor thin creeper, such a big pumpkin.’’ after some time the old man fell asleep. Suddenly a fig fell straight on his nose. The old man jumped up with a start. He said, ``Thank God it was only a fig that fell on my nose. Had it been that big pumpkin it would have smashed not only my nose, but also my jaw. God is indeed wise in his ways.’’
In life, when we say God cares for us. We mean that He is a supreme mind, which can see everything that happens. Not a single hair on our head falls without God noticing it. There is a reason behind everything. Whatever happens fulfils the plan of God for man. This care of God is called Providence.
To believe in God’s providence does not mean that all the difficult things in life will disappear. It does not mean that miracles will happen. If a child runs across the street without looking left or right, sooner or later, he would be knocked down by a speeding vehicle. Providence is not going to stop that. If a girl does not study in order to pass the examinations, providence is not going to help her. Providence means that at each moment God is watching things and gently making us strong so plans God easily. He writes straight with crooked lines.
In 1874, Palestine experienced a very severe winter. The snow piled several feet on the flat roof buildings. Many houses caved in under the heavy weight. One night a robber entered an Arab’s hoses. He stole many things from the ground floor. Then he went upstairs. A baby was sleeping in a small cot. Fearing that the child would wake up and he would be caught, he carried the child outside. He came again inside the house for more valuables. The little child began to cry outside. The Arab and his wife woke up and rushed outside, no sooner were they out of the house the roof collapsed under the snow. The robber was later found holding valuables in his hand.
Sometimes God uses little things to achieve great ends. Difficulties and problems are a very important part of life. It is a consolation to think that these difficulties are all give by God. They come as trials so that we can improve ourselves, and change into better human beings.
When king Alfonus of Spain was asked that according to him, which was the best status or job in life, he answered, `I have often thought about this question. I think only he, who allows himself to be governed by God, and trusts in God, is a truly happy person. This comes in any job or in any status.’’. Therefore let us increase our trust in God and be certain that whether we have joys or sorrows, they always come from the hands of the same good God.
…………An extensive survey carried out by the United Nations quite recently shows that to give every man on the Planet Earth food, shelter, basic clothing and medical requirements in order to meet his/her need for comfortable survival; will cost what golfers spend in a year to play the game…… Or it will cost the same as 1/13th. the amount spent on cigarettes in a year!
The point then is ‘Why are so many individuals today, dying for lack of basic necessities?’ Obviously, there is more than enough money!
Is it that we do not care enough?
Or, is it that we believe that they should ‘suffer’?
Join hands with Life Is Beautiful – An Institute for World Peace, as we form a Global Network of individuals who do care- to make sure that everybody has enough to survive without struggling and suffering!
Please send me your names and contact details on
Please also do forward this mail to all friends, acquaintances, relatives etc. so that we can reach out to them as well!
Come on!! Together we can make a difference!
LOOKING FOR A HOUSE ON RENT
In big cities, it is an unforgetful experience to look for a house on rent. In a city like Mumbai, it is like a dream to acquire a house on rent. While looking for a reasonably suitable house, I found that the rents are very high. It is very difficult for a common man to afford rent. Everyone in such big cities does not earn enough money in a month to pay for houserent and cost of living. It is also difficult to find a house according to one’s need. To find a house in the locality of one’s choice is another difficulty. In such situations life becomes too difficult for a common man who has to take care of a family. I also found that, in addition to rent, the landlords now-a days are asking for a huge amount as deposit. It is equivalent to three months to two years of house rent, depending upon the locality. Generally, landlords offer accomodation on rent for a limited period of about two to three years. When I was transferred to Delhi, I had to pay a ten months advance in order to take a suitable house on rent in a posh locality called Greater Kailash. It was an uphill task for me to get a house in an authorised locality of Delhi within my means.
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You see an old woman stumbling. She falls on the footpath. Do you run to help her or pretend not to have seen her? If you run to help her, you are doing the right thing. Your heart tells you what is right. You need not wait for your elders to tell you what to do. It is a story about doing the right thing.
Hans lived in a village in Holland. One day he walked along the road that led to the next village. This road ran by the sea. There was a high wall between the sea and the land. This special wall called the dyke. The dyke protected the village from flooding when the sea rose.
In the evening, as he was walking back home, dark clouds began gathering in the sky. Soon it began to rain. When he reached the dyke, it was raining heavily. Suddenly Hans saw sea water gushing on to the road through a crack in the dyke. He knew that this was dangerous. If the crack got wider, water would flood the village and the fields.
Hans was wet and cold. He wanted to go home. As there was no one else around, he knew ha had to do something to save the village. He tried to cover the crack with his palm. The force of the water pushed his hand again and again. He then stuffed some leaves and twigs from a tree into the crack and held them firmly with his hands. Now the water could not rush in.
After some time Hans grew tired. His arms ached. But he did not give up. He held on till the villagers came looking for him. Hans was hero to the villages because he had saved the village.
Understand
Very often, doing the right thing is difficult. It might seem easier not to do it, especially when we have not been told to do it. But we have a duty to over selves and to others. Often, to do the right thing, we might have to make a difficult choice.
You might be going to buy an ice ream when a poor woman asks you for money to buy medicines for her child. You know that the medicine is more important than the ice cream. So you give the money to the woman. You have made the right choice!
You can do the right thing if you understand what is fair. When you do the right thing you make others happy. In their happiness you will find joy.
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Festivals
The category focusses on festivals followed at different places of the world.
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